Ephesians and All That Jazz: Riffing with Paul: A Transliteration

by Tom Anderson

You will never read Ephesians the same way again. You will discover a God you could never have imagined and a you imagined before the worlds began. And you will also identify with Paul in a new way.

130 pages, Hardcover

First published July 31, 2020

About the author

Tom Anderson has learned to read the Scriptures with both his eyes and his heart, discovering his own story within the Bible’s narratives. His faith, rooted in the joyful, purposeful, and inclusive relationship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, shapes his life and perspective. Though not a formal theologian, Tom’s profound engagement with Scripture, as God’s living Word, inspires those who yearn for a deeper connection with God.
Tom’s recent book emerges from his personal journey, moving from feelings of uncertainty and insignificance to a wholeness grounded in his identity as a beloved son of God. This revelation has reshaped his understanding of faith, guiding him beyond authoritative doctrine—while still honoring it—toward a vibrant, lived experience rooted in the love and grace of God.
In his writing, Tom conversationally weaves these insights, consistently anchoring them in Scripture. His books offer a path to healing and spiritual renewal, inviting readers to encounter a God more wonderful than they could imagine and to see themselves in the story of grace and redemption.
Married to Nancy for over 50 years, Tom and his wife have a son, a daughter, and six grandchildren who still like them. Over the years, Tom and Nancy have been into collecting, and what they have collected are friends. And, for them, there has been no better pursuit or investment.

Reviews

[Heather Barta · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very interested in reading Ephesians and All That Jazz because I’m not the biggest fan of Paul. I have read a variety of writings in the past that helped me understand more deeply some of Paul’s writings. I was hoping that Anderson’s writings would give me a fresh perspective on the book of Ephesians and a new appreciation for Paul (or Paul’s disciples since they are the ones that probably wrote it). Unfortunately, this book did not deliver what I hoped.

Anderson does have some imagery that is unique, and his reflections include contemporary language that can help a reader come to see a verse in a new way, or invites the reader more deeply explore what that phrase might mean to one’s life. The format of the book can help a reader go to a particular verse for further study and reflection, or one can just read from beginning to end. The flow of the writing allows for the reader to consume smaller chunks or complete chapters in a single sitting.

For me, unfortunately, there were a couple of pieces that interrupted my entering into the world that Anderson had created. The first was his masculine pronoun for God. While that might be his theology and how he experiences God, continuously using “He” for the Godhead interrupts my reading and reflecting and I am unable to flow with the imagery and reflection that he provides. God as masculine is neither my theology nor how I connect with God, and the continuous “He” disrupted my reading. The second piece that interrupted my reading was that the subtitle identified this as a transliteration. In my understanding, a transliteration would require an author to return to the Scripture texts in the original language and then rewrite the story using contemporary language. I often read transliterations when I’m studying Scripture to help me find new words and phrases to use in sermons. These writings of Biblical text aren’t meant to be translations, but rather a way to help people understand the key concepts of a passage using familiar language. Instead, Anderson presents a rambling reflection of his own interpretation of the scripture. I agree that the author is “riffing with Paul”(another subtitle of the book) because he does take the idea of the verse and plays with it in his personal reflection. There didn’t seem to be a scholarly digging into old language to provide the depth of reflection for which I was hoping. If I had understood this when looking at the title, I might have skipped looking picking it up at all.



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

Author attempts to write an extended paraphrase of Ephesians as if he was the Apostle Paul. Very wordy without adding any great value and tends towards addressing a Western male, in particular North American audience. The use of the word transliteration in the subtitle is nonsensical..It may appeal to others but for me I’d say read a commentary on Ephesians instead.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really touched by this book. Read Chapter 1

[Fr. River]

Anderson does an excellent job in presenting the material in a "jazzy" manner from the conservative point of view, a very black and white point of view. It is obvious it is written from the journey of a white man, and from the point of view of those who are in the middle to upper-middle class.


Good book, but very limited.


Fr. River Sims

www.temenos.org